Kerala govt axes district pleader T Geenakumari over handling of high-profile ED assault case; new Special Prosecutor appointed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a swift and decisive move, the Kerala government has removed Dr. T. Geenakumari from her position as the Thiruvananthapuram District Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor. The official termination order was issued by Law Department Secretary K. G. Sanal Kumar, invoking a clause that allowed her dismissal with one month’s salary in lieu of a standard one-month notice period. Following her ouster, Additional Government Pleader A.R. Shaji has been handed the temporary charge of the office, while advocate A. Santhosh Kumar has been appointed as the Special Prosecutor to oversee the high-profile case involving the assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials.

The administrative action follows a major controversy that erupted after the Thiruvananthapuram District Court granted bail to Hareesh Kumar, the ninth accused in the ED official assault case. The incident in question occurred when a team of ED officers was targeted and attacked while returning from a raid conducted at the residence of Pinarayi Vijayan.

According to reports, the government's disciplinary action was triggered by a severe lapse in the prosecution's handling of the bail hearing. Dr. Geenakumari reportedly conceded in court that custodial interrogation of the accused was unnecessary, a stance that directly contradicted the official report and findings submitted by the investigating officer. This crucial concession significantly weakened the state's position and paved the way for the accused to secure bail, drawing intense flak for the prosecution.

Recognizing the gravity of the oversight and the political sensitivity surrounding the case, the state government intervened to order her immediate removal. Dr. Geenakumari had been appointed to the prestigious post by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in October 2023 and was originally scheduled to complete her tenure in October 2026.